Fibrinogen levels and exercise. Is there a relationship?

Haemostatic disturbances associated with elevated plasma fibrinogen levels have been implicated in coronary heart disease. Changes involving plasma fibrinogen levels have been reported after acute exercise. However, the results reported have sometimes been controversial, due to differences in the populations studied, exercise protocols and testing procedures, and the analytical methods employed for the assessment of plasma fibrinogen levels. The influence of physical training on plasma fibrinogen levels is more controversial and less well known. Cross-sectional studies suggest that regular exercise reduces plasma fibrinogen concentration. However, the influence of training programmes on plasma fibrinogen levels is less well studied and the available data are still poor with conflicting results being reported. This lack of evidence warrants further investigations in order to clarify the exact effects of acute exercise and physical training on plasma fibrinogen levels in normal healthy individuals and patients.